Tobacco-stemming machine.



' A. GRODSKY. ToBAGco STEMMING MAGHINL. APPLICATION FILEDJUNB 5, 1908.

Patented sept. 14,1909.

4 SHBBTS-SHBET A. GRODSKY.

` TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE.

APPLIATION FILED .TUNE 5, 1908.

Patented sept. 14.1909.

Patented Sept. 14, 1909,

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l AARON GnoDsKY, oremcmna'rr, 01110.

TOBACCO-STEMMING MACHINE.

Application mea June 5, 190e.

' Specification ofLette'rsPatent. Patented sept. 1.4-, moo.

Serial No. 436,861'.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Annen (inoDsnY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Cincinnati, county of Hamilton, and State of Ohio, havel invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco-Stemming Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact. description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of.. this specification.

My invention relates' to that certain novel construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter particularly pointed out and claimed, whereby the crumpled-leaves of tobacco may be readily and easily fed to the machine, to be automatically smoothed out dirt', and the stems leaf and automaticaccurately cut from the Rotating cutters ally separated therefron'i.

are employed to cut out'l the stem, land brushes are employed in connection With the rotary cutters to smooth out and clean the leaf from dust-and dirt. l-leretofore, however, in such machines, no provision has been made to apply the action of the brushes in in'imediate proximity to the stem, and consequently portions'of the leaf next to the stem have not been acted upon and the cutters have been liable to act upon and cut out the central portion of the leaf.

One feature of my invention, therefore, re-` lates tothe construction and means fr applying the brushes whereby they may be brought to bear upon the leaf, throughout the entire leaf plane, from the central stem outwardly. j

Another important feature of my invention consists o the construction em loyed to automatically separate the stems rom the cut leaf, and also to insure the )erfect delivery of the leaf smooth and at, and to prevent the leaf from winding around and becoming entangled with the delivery mechanism.

Numerous other features of novelty and `advantage in the construction and operation,

will be hereinafter particularlvpointed out in the eourse'of the detailed descrip/tion of the apparatus.

In tie drawings tion of my improved machine. Fig-2 is a Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of the machine. Fig. tis a front elevation of the upper portion of the machine. Fig. 5 is across sectional elevation of the upper portion of the machine across rollers,

to form a guldc for the stem of the tobacco,Y

Figure 1 is a side eleva-i taken on the lines 5, 5 of Fig. 2, looking toward the feed. Fig. (S is a similar cross sectional elevation taken on the lines t3, 6, of Fig. 2, looking toward the feed. Fig. 7

detail view showing the knife for separating the stems from the cut leaf. Figs. 8 and'tl are respectively a side elevation, and a cross section of one of the sprocket chain brushes..

Fig. .10 is a detail view showing in vertical sect-ion, the sprocket .chain brush construction. p

The machine mechanisln is mounted in a. substantial framework, comprising side standards l, 1 suitably braced with cross braces, and'on this framework at. the front portion is bolted a supplemental frame comprising side standards 3, 3, with top plate 4.,'

and suitable cross braces to support the.

brushing and cutting mechanisms and driving gears. Supported horizontally across the middle portion of this supplemental frame is the feed table 5, bent downward in front as shown in Fig. 3, toform a convenient table for the feeding of the leaf. Mounted at the central portion of this table at a suitable slot' therein, and with their meetino` surfaces in the table plane are the feed rolers 7. The lower feed roller (i, as shown in Fig. t, is a roller with roughened periphery mounted onthe shaft. S, journaled the frame underneath the table, and provided with the gear 1t), at one end in mesh with a train of gears from the driving` shaft.. The upper roller 7, is a grooved roller as shown in Fig. fl, 'to engage around the stem'of the leaf as it is fed thereto. This upper roller is mounted in a elevis 1t, the stem of which provided with a slot 12, which is engaged by an arm 13, on the rock shaft 14, connected by an arm 15 (Fig. 2) with a rod 16, (Fig. 1) actuated by the foot lever 417. ln addition to the roller 7, the clevis 11, also carries 'a pressure 'foot '18, which is extended rearward from the feed and is grooved as shown in Fig. 5,

leaf to the cutting knives. These cutting knives, 19, are rotary disks mounted on the rollers 2() and 21, journaled across the ma.

chine. 'Two of these cutting disks 19, are mounted onuthe upper about the thickness of the tobacco stem and the lower roher gaging between the two upper disks- The roller `21, carries at one end the tight and loose pulleys 22, 23through which power-is carries one cutting disk en'- i roller 20, spacedap'are nate link of its respective chain, brushes transmitted to the machine by the belt 24.- On the opposite ends these rollers are provided with internieshing gears 25, 26.

Between the cutting knives and their rollers and the feed rollers, and mounted on the .sprocket Wheels 27, 27 and 28, 28, for their outer' portions, and the guide-rollers 29, 29, and 30, 30, for their inner portions, are two pairs of sprocket chains 31, 31, and 32, 32. These sprocket c'lianrs carry' for each alter- 1)( 7 and the two sets of chaiiibrushes are so disposed that thebrushes of the upper set shalll eled gears 36, 36 and 37, 87, mounted in the y side standards 3, 3, and provided with gears 38, 38 and 39, 39, outside the standards, and

these gears are in mesh by a suitable train of gears'and piiiions with the driving gears 26, This train.

on the driving shaft roller 21. of gears is so arranged that the upper vset of sprocketwheels 27, 27, shall be rotated in opposite directions toward each other so as to carry tl'ie upper set of chain brushes for the upper portion toward each other, and for'tlife lower portion, away from each other. The sprocket wheels 28, 28, are in the same Way rotated 'i'n opposite direction'so as to cairy'the lower portion of the chain brushes toward each other, and the upper setaway from each other. lnasniuch as each link of each sprocket chain carries a brush, we will with this construction when the machine is in operation, have a constant series of brushes on each side of the middle portion of the leaf, and for the entire plane of the leaf, contacting with the leaf both above. and below, and acting thereon at vright angles to the plane of the feed of the leaf by the feed -rollei's to the cutting knives.

Mounted intermediate the respective sprocket wheels at one end, and the guide rollers atthe other, which carry the sprocket chain brushes for the upper set above and 4for the lower set below, engaging the sprocket chains, are thev guide rollers 40, 40 -k and 41, 41. These guide rollers are adjust- 'ably mounted so as to regulate the proper tension of the chain brushes',`and also to I cause an -incli'iieof the moving chain in thedirection of the line of movement towardthe center, and the inner guid'erollers 29, 29

.and 30, 30, are set so-c'lose together, and the chains lare so mount-ed on the sprocket Wheels,

that intheirmovement in passing the center, they will overlap the brushv of one upper chain, coming in etvween the two brushes of the opposing set of brush-esy in the saine plane. By this construction I am enabled to bring the sets of chain brushes very close together so.` that they will contact with the leaf very close to the central stein, and thus the leaf will be smoothed out and cleaned of the dirt and grit throughout the entire leafl plane from the middle portion to the outer 141, and the bristles for each brush are4 gathered in a tuft and inserted in a rectangular vbox 142, prvided with projecting flanges 143, 143, on the front and rear. The box is then inserted between the side plates 141, 141, with the flanges of the boX resting on the upper edge of the 'side plates and the boxes are locked in place by the staples 144, 144. ln this way each brush is separate from the other brushes of the chain and any brush can be removed vfor repairs or renewal readily and easily.

After the leaf has been fed by the feed rollers 6 and 7, the body of the leaf is smoothed out and .cleaned -by the chain brushes, the stem ofthe leaf guided bythe pressure foot 18 to the cutting disks, and the leaf severed on each side of the stem by the cutters, the leaf carried to the delivery end of the machine between a series of traveling belts 44, 45, thev endless belts 44, are

arranged parallel to each other running over the roller 20, at the inner end, and the roller '46 at the deliveryl end.

This roll-er 46, is mounted in the standards 47, 47, and is driven at the same rate ofspeed `with the roller 20, by the counter-shaft 48, which carries at each end the beveled gears 49, 49,

ineshin at one .end with thebeveled Gear 50, on the shaft of the roller ,1, and at the other end with the beveled gear 51, on the shaft of the roller 46. The other series of endless belts 45, are carried-'by the roller 21, at Pthe inner eiid, and the roller 52, mounted at the delivery end in the standards 47, underneath the roller 4.6, and both of these rollers are driven at the saine rate o f speed as the rollers 46 and y20, by inter-meshing gears on .the ends-of the respective shafts. l'n order that the belt-v 45, may be carried below the delivery trough for the stems, to be hereinafter described, the belt-is run over the idler rollers 53, 54 and 55, 56, :is shown iii Fig. 1. One of these rollers as 55, is mounted on arms 57,' capable of a swinging adjustment to regulate the tension of the belt. 45.

The tobacco leaves after the stem is severed therefrom are carried by the belts 44 and 45, and delivered tothe rocking plate 58, whichis secured to the rock shaft 59,

' upon which is mounted on the arms 60, secured to the frame of the machine. This rock sh-aft 59 and the p1ate58,'are rocked intermittently by the cam 61, mounted on thedisk 62, which is 'looselymoiinted on the shaft 63, and provided with a clutch device 64, indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, by means of which at cam lever 69, is held in engagement with thel cani by the spr'ng 70, and when the cam 61, rotates, the rock haft 59, and the plate 58,

' will be rocked by the connecting bar 71,

V train of gears from the gears on the rollersv tween-the knives .by the spring 82.

coupling the cam lever 69, with an aim '72, on the rock shaft. I'hus as the tobacco leaves are delivered from the machine by the belts,

.the opei'ator aetuates the. plate 58, to pile up the'leaves in a suitable pile.

' In 'order to prevent any leaf from adhering'to either ofthe belts 44 or 45, rotating plates 73, 7 4,-are provided which are mounted on shafts 75, 76, and rotated in the direction ofthe arrows shown in Fig. 3, by the 46 and 52.

In order to adjust belts 44 and 45, I mounted on the vertically adjustable arms 78, 78, secured to the main frame by boltsr engaging slots 7 9, in the lower end of the arms.

In order to separate the tobacco stems from the leaf as they are cuttherefrom by the rotary cutters 19, 19, I provide a, stripping knife 80, pivotedA to a c ross bar 81, the narrow inner' end of which knife enters in between. thepaii' of rotary-cutters, and is held against the surface of the roller 20, b-

T e knife 80, carries a guard plate 83, and as the stems are eut they are carried'down between the guard plate 83, and the shield plate 84, and into the trough 85. The upper edge of the shield plate' 84, is also caused to Vbear against the surface of the roller 21, to keep saine clean and prevent any loose ends from wrapping around this roller. The trough S5, has aninclined bottom 86, to discharge the cut stems from the side of the machine, where they are piled up and can be removed asthey accumulate.

87 is the belt shifter engaging the drivingv belt 24, to throw same from the tight to the loose driving stop the machine, `1nd this belt shifter is operated b 'the connecting rod 88, connectbe actuated to couple the theV tension of both provide the roller 77.,

pulleys 22, 23, to start and.

ters Patent, is

`chains with brushes mounted ing same to a third foot treadle that is not shown in the drawings.

The operation of my stemming machine will foregoing description.

improved tobacco and places the outer eiid of the stein on the feed table 5, between the feed rollers 6' and 7, the upper grooved roller and the guiding foot 1.8, resting oii the parts, although, ofcourse, a spring could be employed bearing on the upper end of the supporting clevis 11, to hold the upper feed roller to its work, if desired. Should lthe stein become displaced or any material 80,

clogged behind the feed rollers, the operator can instantly raise the upper feed rollerand' the' guiding foot by rocking the shaft 14, by the'foot treadle. The leaf is carried with the stein, guided and. held in position by the a5 guiding foot, between the sets of chain brushes, which as described, are acting both above and below the leaf plane on each side of the stem, and is smoothed out and cleaned of dust and dirt. is accuratelyguided' between the pairs of cutting knives, and-the stem severed from the two halves of the leaf. rlhe stem as it isV cut -is separated from the leaf, and delivered into the trough85,

of the leaf are carried along by the belts 44 and 45, and delivered smoothed and fiatten'ed out to the foldingplate 58, and as the leaf reaches this plate ,thev operator by the foot" treadle couples up tating gear 65,and they leaves are depositedI one after another in a convenient pile at the rearv of the machine. i

Having thus described my invention I? claim as new and 'desire what 1. In a tobacco stemming machine, in coinbination with cutting knives to sever ,the

,stem from the leaf of a plurality of sets of brushes arranged iii a plurality of series on opposite sidesl of the leaf stem, and constructed to engage the leaf substantially along its medial line and transverse to the feed of the leaf to the cutters withmeans for actuating said brushes to spread out the leaf fi'oin its medial line laterally in opposite directions.

2. In atobacco stemming machine, in coinv bination with cutting knives to sever lthe stem from the leaf of a pair of endless flexlble carriers with brushes mounted-thereon arranged on opposite sides of the leaf stem andl means for actuating said brushes to engage the line and the cutters. l .Y

3. In a tobacco stemming machine, in combination.l with cutting knives to sever the stem from ythe leaf of a pair of sprocket bel clear from the The machine being 79 started, he operator takes one leaf at a time the stem by the weight of 75 At the Sametime the stein so while the two. halves 95 the cam 61, with the rololo to secure byI Let- 105 leaf substantially along its medial transverse to the feed of the leaf to on the links leaf stem and means for actuating said` i* f l thereof, said sprocket chains arranged on oppositesides of the leaf stem and means for actuating said brushes to engage the leaf substantially along its medial line and transverse to the feed of the leaf to the cutters.

et. ln a tobacco stemming machine, inl

combination with cutting knives to sever the stem from the leaf,` of a plurality 0f brushes arranged in pairs above and vbelow the leaf plane and onvop'posite sides of the brushes to engage the leaf substantially along its medial line and transverse tol the feed of the leaf to-the cutters.

5. ln a tobacco stemmlng machine, 1n

combination with cutting knives to sever the stem from the leaf of two pairs of endless liexible carr1ers,.w1th brushes mounted thereon said carriers arranged in pairs above and below the leaf plane and on opposite sides of the leaf stem, and means .for actuating said brushes to engage the leaf sub.- stantially along its medial lme and transverse to the feed of the leaf to the cutters.

- with their inner portions so disposed vas to 6. In a tobacco stemming machine, devices to enga e the surface of the leaf from the medial ine outwardly comprising a pair of flexible endless carriers With brushes mountedin an endless series thereon, said carriers arl ranged on opposite sides of theA leaf stem permit the brushes of one carrier to overlap i l 4 the .brushes of the other carrier', and means for actuating said carriers to cause theL brushes to engagefthe lea-f substantially along the medial line.

7. In a tobacco stemming machine` Vthe combination with mechanism for brushing out and severine the s'temvfrom the leaf, of feed rollers to eed the leaf to the brushes and knives, the 'lower feed roller having a,u

roughened periphery and the upper' rller being yieldingly mounted and grooved to engage the leaf stem, and a presser. foot` correspondingly grooved and mounted to guide the leaf stem and extending between said brushing devices. 8. 1n a tobacco stemming machine/feed rollers to feed the leaves to the machine,l disk knives to sever the stem from the leaf f and rollersto'4 carry the leaf between the knives with endless belts ycarried by said rolL ersto prevent Athe severed leaf fromwindl` f ing around' said rollers and k'to deliver the"v cut leaf from the machine, With fan plates4` lat the delivery end ofv said belts andsmeans for rotating same in contact witlsaidenglprevent theleaf from' 'adhering 

